Frequently Asked Questions

ADELAIDE HILLS DEALER OF THE YEAR SINCE 2002 - SPLIT SYSTEM AIR CONDITIONERS

Can Panasonic units operate in the lowest temperatures of the Adelaide Hills?

Yes. The new Panasonic Inverter systems will run in temperatures as low as minus 15 degrees C. All units are fitted with an electronic defrost system.

Can I have plants on or around the air conditioner? If so, how close?

The operation manual outlines the requirements when placing plants near a unit. Plants should generally be kept from direct exposure to warm or cold air being blown from the indoor unit. Try to place plants out of direct drafts from the indoor unit. The outdoor unit should never have plants or any other material obstructing airflow. At least 1m of space in front and 100mm behind the outdoor unit is required for trouble free operation.

Can you have day/night mode on at the same time?

No. Panasonic units have a sleep mode which can be used to operate on factory determined settings. Our units also have a timer function that can be used to switch the system on and off at a desired time. The method of operation and setting of these features is outlined in the operating instructions accompanying each indoor unit.

Do I have to change the filters? How often does this need to be done?

Air filters fitted to indoor units should be regularly inspected and cleaned. Initially check every 4 weeks, until some idea is gained as to how quickly dust is building-up. At the very least, air filters should be cleaned every 3 months. Some indoor units are fitted with Catechin and various Air Purifying Filters, which have specific maintenance instructions. therefore the individual instructions supplied with each unit should be carefully followed.

Do the feet on the outside unit have to be bolted to the floor?

The unit should be placed on a firm level base of concrete. A qualified installer should be consulted to determine the need for securing bolts on a case by case basis.

Do the wall brackets come supplied with the ceiling mounted units or do we need to purchase them separately?

Mounting brackets are supplied with all indoor units.

Does the outside unit sit directly on the ground?

Some form of level concrete slab should be placed under the outdoor unit.

How far away from the wall should the outdoor unit be (from the front and back of it)?

At the front (fan side) of unit, no less than 1m is recommended for a small split AC and 2m for a large packacge AC. More would be preferable. At the back (no fan) of unit, no less than 100mm is needed for a small split AC and 200mm for a large package AC. More would be preferable. N.B. All outdoor units not only need a minimum distance around them, but also must be located so that the hot air they blow out can escape away from the unit, and new cooler air can be taken through the unit. Careful consideration regarding location is required by an experienced installer.

How much distance do I have to allow on the left and right sides of my outdoor unit?

On the side of the outdoor unit where pipes enter, maximum space possible should be allowed so that the unit can be serviced more easily. The minimum distance at the piping end should be 300mm for a small split AC and 500mm for a large package AC. At the end opposite pipes the minimum recommended distance is 100mm but more is preferable.

I want a unit which is ??hp. Which Panasonic model is the equivalent?

All Panasonic units are now measured in kW (kilowatts) and this refers directly to their cooling or heating capacity.

If I purchase three units, can I use just one remote controller for all of them?

No, this is not recommended. If one remote is used to start more than one unit, the load on the power supply is much too great. Each indoor unit should have a separate remote control. In this situation each remote must be set-up by the installer to operate its individual indoor unit correctly.

My unit has been set to the heating mode. Suddenly it has stopped and the outdoor unit has ice on it. Is this a problem?

No, ice on the outdoor unit is not a problem. The unit has controls that allow it to monitor the ice build up on the outdoor unit and will occasionally go into a de-ice mode to clear the ice. The full de-icing mode can last up to 30 minutes.

My unit is blowing cold air but it is in heat mode. Why?

If the desired temperature has been reached in the room space then the indoor unit will slow the fan but continue to circulate a small amount of air so as to measure room air temperature. This air is actually at room temperature but may feel “cooler” because the indoor unit has stopped heating the air until the room temp falls again.

The fan keeps cutting in and out. Is there a problem?

Panasonic units are designed to sometimes switch the indoor and outdoor fans on and off automatically in order to provide the temperature conditions set by the user.

The outside unit drips water. Is this normal?

It is completely normal for the outside unit to drip water, particularly when operating a window unit or in heating mode. The unit has a drain outlet and coupling supplied should you wish to connect a drain pipe to remove this water.

What is soft/dry mode?

Soft/Dry mode is used to de-humidify the room space. The unit does this by air conditioning for a minimum amount of time, which allows collection of moisture from the air without changing the temperature noticeably.

What size air conditioner do I need to condition my room?

The correct size unit for a room is not only decided by room area, but also many other factors. Please see Panasonic website Air Conditioner ‘Easy Selector’ for online sizing assistance. Qualified assistance should always be sought when purchasing a unit for a specific room size.

Whenever there is a power failure, and the power is restored, the split air conditioner switches itself on. How do I stop this from occurring?

Panasonic air conditioners are designed to operate so that in the case of a power failure, when power resumes the unit will return to the setting that it was on prior to the power failure. Our air conditioners are supplied with this feature active, however a qaulified technician can disable Auto Re-start should you wish to do so. Please contact Panasonic Australia for more information.

Why don’t your Panasonic brochures show the hp rating?

All Panasonic units are now rated using actual heating or cooling capacity measured in a metric unit of kW (kilowatts). This is the most accurate method available when calculating required room capacity.

What is an Inverter?

An inverter is a type of power conversion circuit which provides optimum power control and extremely efficient operation by changing the frequency of the power supply. So even though you get speedy, flexible operation, you use less electricity than conventional units.